Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

The matter of sending the carefully cultivated young women into the palace was truly a case of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their unique abilities.

There was the simplest and most direct method: bribing the selection officials to agree to include a designated woman in the registry.

This method was extremely risky, and not many people would use it.

The truly undefended method was to disguise those women as innocent young girls from ordinary families, allowing them to be selected by the officials and naturally enter the palace.

Another method involved carefully orchestrated arrangements for them to be selected by the officials and sent into the palace.

Zhu You樘 publicly dismembering Zhang Cai with six horses was meant to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, deterring ministers with such intentions.

"All others in Zhang Cai's selection team will be demoted and have their salaries reduced!"

"As for you, Liu Jian."

Zhu You樘 looked at Liu Jian, causing Liu Jian's already bowed waist to bend even lower.

"Your salary will be reduced for half a year!"

Liu Jian secretly lamented in his heart but respectfully nodded in agreement on the surface.

Liu Jian knew that this was actually a warning from Zhu You樘 regarding his continuous recommendation of Grand Secretaries.

Liu Jian's actions to strengthen the Grand Secretariat were too obvious and had already aroused Zhu You樘's displeasure.

"Dismiss court!"

After Zhu You樘 finished speaking, he turned and left.

The civil and military officials glanced at the pool of blood on the ground, feeling lingering fear as they exited the palace.

...

On the other side, Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi, and the other eight, led by a female historian named Zhao, arrived at the Chuxiu Palace (Palace for Selecting Beauties).

After another inspection to confirm that they were still virgins, they were officially considered to have entered the palace.

After Zhao, the female historian, had them change into the uniform attire of the young women in the palace, she led them to the hall of the Chuxiu Palace.

Here, hundreds of young women, under the guidance of Palace Director Cui, were learning the basic palace etiquette.

Palace Director Cui saw the newly arrived young women, her eyes narrowed, and she beckoned them: "New young women, stand in front of me."

"Yes."

The eight young women stood in front of Palace Director Cui one by one, their eyes lowered, accepting her scrutiny.

Palace Director Cui walked around the eight, examining their appearance and figure.

She had to admit that even by her harsh standards, the appearance of these eight women was top-notch.

Among this batch of young women, only a few could compare to them.

Palace Director Cui nodded in satisfaction: "Go back to the ranks."

"Yes."

The eight returned to the ranks, and Palace Director Cui stood in front of hundreds of young women and began to lecture.

"Remember, from the moment you step into the palace gate, you are severing ties with everything outside."

"From now on, the only thing you need to do is to serve the current Emperor well."

"The palace is not like the outside world; there are rules about what can be said, what cannot be said, what can be done, and what cannot be done."

"Your task these few days is to become familiar with the rules of the palace, fulfill your duties, do you understand?"

Hundreds of young women answered in unison: "Understood."

Palace Director Cui nodded and continued to lecture: "Among you hundreds of young women, no more than fifty will actually have the opportunity to meet the Emperor."

"And no more than twenty will be favored by the Emperor and have the opportunity to serve him."

"As for those who can be promoted to concubines, there will be no more than a handful."

"To win the Emperor's favor, appearance, figure, personality, and talent are all essential!"

"The next month is your only chance to change your destiny."

"Whether you become masters or slaves in the palace depends on your own fortune."

"Did everyone hear clearly!"

"Heard clearly!"

Hundreds of palace women looked solemn, feeling immense pressure in their hearts, with fine beads of sweat seeping from their foreheads.

At this moment, the sound of a small eunuch announcing a visit was heard.

"Empress Dowager Wu has arrived, Empress Dowager Wang has arrived!"

Palace Director Cui quickly led hundreds of young women to give a slight bow to the two Empresses Dowager, which was considered a salute.

"Greetings to Empress Dowager Wu, greetings to Empress Dowager Wang."

"No need for formalities. I heard that all the young women have entered the palace today, so I came to take a look."

Empress Dowager Wu said with a smile, curiously looking at the young women in the Chuxiu Palace.

Empress Dowager Wang also walked in: "Sister Wu and I thought of the same thing, what a coincidence."

The two dignified and luxurious Empresses Dowager walked into the Chuxiu Palace, and the hundreds of young women present felt even more pressure.

The two Empresses Dowager casually walked among the hundreds of young women, stopping to chat with those who caught their eye.

Empress Dowager Wang searched around, and suddenly her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked to a young woman's side: "I ask you, do you have a name?"

The young woman raised her head in surprise, revealing a face that could topple kingdoms.

The young woman had a graceful figure and a beautiful appearance, no less than Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi, and the other eight.

The young woman respectfully replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject does not have a name; my father's surname is Zhang."

Many women in the Ming Dynasty did not have their own names, only their father's surname.

Especially the daughters of officials, very few had formal names, and at most only had a childhood nickname.

"Oh?" Empress Dowager Wang asked again: "What is your family background?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, my father is Zhang Luan, the Supervisor of the Imperial College."

Empress Dowager Wang nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, a clean family background and outstanding appearance; I am very satisfied with you."

Empress Dowager Wang beckoned, and a palace maid stepped forward and handed over a hairpin.

"Take this hairpin; consider it a greeting gift from me."

Zhang was frightened by this sudden surprise, staring blankly at Empress Dowager Wang with her cherry-like mouth open.

The palace maid beside her softly reminded: "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and thank the Empress."

Zhang then reacted and quickly bowed to return the courtesy: "This subject thanks the Empress Dowager for her grace."

Empress Dowager Wang smiled and looked at the other young women.

Palace Director Cui secretly noted Zhang's appearance.

Empress Dowager Wang's actions undoubtedly showed her attitude.

This young woman Zhang will definitely have the opportunity to meet the Emperor in the end.

Empress Dowager Wang and Empress Dowager Wu had the same purpose in coming here: to select the young women they were satisfied with and then take the opportunity to build relationships with them.

This way, when these young women truly one day gained the Emperor's favor, they could also benefit from it.

Empress Dowager Wang cultivated a relationship with Zhang, and Empress Dowager Wu also noticed Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi, and these eight women.

Empress Dowager Wu walked to Chen Yuanyuan and the others and asked with a smile: "Do you girls have names?"

Chen Yuanyuan was overjoyed and quickly replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject is called Chen Yuanyuan."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject's name is Liu Rushi."

"..."

The eight women each reported their names, their soft Wu dialects making Empress Dowager Wu feel very comfortable.

Then, Empress Dowager Wu asked: "What is your family background?"

Chen Yuanyuan and the others' expressions stiffened slightly, but they dared not lie and could only stammer an answer.

"This subject and the others... were adopted by... Lord Zhang, the Yingtian Governor... as adopted daughters..."

As soon as the excuse of being adopted daughters came out, everyone understood what was going on.

While speaking, Chen Yuanyuan carefully observed Empress Dowager Wu's expression.

At this moment, the eight women were very uneasy, their hearts pounding like a deer, and even their hands were secretly clenched.

They silently prayed, waiting for Empress Dowager Wu's response.

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